Beverage infusion pouch receptacle device and method

ABSTRACT

A receptacle for a sodden beverage infusion pouch is disclosed herein. The receptacle for a sodden beverage infusion pouch includes a disposable sheet, and a disposable absorbent-barrier. The receptacle for a sodden beverage infusion pouch is useful for providing a means for no-mess disposal of the sodden beverage infusion pouch. In a preferred embodiment, the beverage infusion pouch may be a tea bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of receptacles andmore specifically relates to a receptacle for a beverage infusion pouch.

2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Tea bags and beverage pouches are well known in the art. A tea bag is asmall, porous, sealed bag containing dried plant material, which isimmersed in boiling water to make a hot drink. At restaurants and publiccatering establishments tea would be prepared by the customersthemselves. The waiter serves the guest a cup of hot water into whichthe customer immerses the teabag to brew their tea. However, when theteabag is discarded and put aside, there appears a problem with itsconsequent placement.

The customer may only dispose of the tea bag if a trash can be nearby.Due to this, a customer may attempt to deal with the problem in anotherway, such as placing the tea bag on a saucer or in a bundle of tissue.However, there are problems with these approaches. If the tea bagcontaining water is placed onto a saucer, moisture accumulates in therecess of the saucer which then poses a risk of soiling clothing andtablecloths when the saucer is moved. If a tea bag is placed in tissue,the moisture seeps through the tissue and soils the table underneath. Afurther problem with these methods is that it ruins the aestheticquality of the table. Thus, there is a need for an improved means ofdisposal of a beverage infusion pouch.

U.S. Publication No. 2005/0031738 to Christensen et al. relates to a teabag package. The described tea bag package includes a triangularenvelope having first and second opposite flaps connected to each otheralong first and second sides of the triangle but not along the thirdside and furthermore having a third flap connected at the third side tothe first flap and via a folding line foldable between a first positionin which the third side is open and a second position in which the thirdside is closed so that the three flaps together define a closed chamber.The tea bag package includes a tea bag disposed in the chamber and astring attached to a corner of this tea bag and running through a slitor eye in the point in which the two closed sides join each other.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known receptacleart, the present disclosure provides a novel beverage infusion pouchreceptacle device. The general purpose of the present disclosure, whichwill be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide abeverage infusion pouch receptacle device useful for receiving anddisposing a sodden beverage infusion pouch (such as a used tea bag).

A receptacle for a sodden beverage infusion pouch is disclosed herein.The receptacle for a sodden beverage infusion pouch may comprise adisposable sheet having a substantially flat surface with a mid-sectionand at least 3 corners. The disposable sheet may further include apliability configured to constrict around and retain the sodden beverageinfusion pouch in a closed position when the sodden beverage infusionpouch is seated about the mid-section of the flat surface. Thereceptacle may further comprise a disposable absorbent-barrier fixedlyattached to the mid-section of the disposable sheet, the disposableabsorbent-barrier may have an opening and an inner volume configured toreceive the sodden beverage infusion pouch, and the absorbent-barriermay be structured to absorb a liquid from the sodden beverage infusionpouch.

According to another embodiment, the receptacle for a sodden tea bag mayinclude a disposable sheet that may include a substantially flat surfacehaving a mid-section and 4 corners, and a disposable absorbent-barrierfixedly attached to the mid-section of the disposable sheet. Accordingto this embodiment, the receptacle may be structured and configured tostore and dispose of the sodden tea bag, while absorbing leakage fromthe sodden tea bag. According to this embodiment, the disposable sheetand the disposable absorbent-barrier may comprise a heat-resistantmaterial and a bio-degradable material and may include at least twolayers and have a thickness configured to provide durability.

According to another embodiment, a method of using the receptacle forthe sodden beverage infusion pouch is also disclosed. The method ofusing the receptacle for the sodden beverage infusion pouch may includeholding the receptacle in an open-condition, placing the sodden beverageinfusion pouch at the mid-section of the disposable sheet, folding thedisposable sheet to constrict around and retain the sodden beverageinfusion pouch and disposing of the receptacle containing the soddenbeverage infusion pouch.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, abeverage infusion pouch receptacle device and method, constructed andoperative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle for a sodden beverageinfusion pouch during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the receptacle for the soddenbeverage infusion pouch of FIG. 1 showing an open-condition of thereceptacle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the receptacle for the sodden beverageinfusion pouch of FIGS. 1-2, illustrating a closed-condition of thereceptacle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle for the sodden beverageinfusion pouch of FIGS. 1-3, illustrating disposal of the receptacleaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the receptaclefor the sodden beverage infusion pouch, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to areceptacle and more particularly to a beverage infusion pouch receptacledevice and method as used to improve the disposal of a beverage infusionpouch useful for receiving and disposing a sodden beverage infusionpouch (such as a used tea bag).

Generally, a receptacle for a used tea bag may allow for easier andcleaner disposal of the used tea bag. The receptacle may comprise a flatsheet and an absorbent barrier composed of a bio-degradable andheat-resistant material. The receptacle may retain the used tea bagafter the tea bag is ready for disposal. The receptacle may store thetea bag temporarily on a table and prevent leakage from the tea bagseeping through to the table and soiling a tablecloth or clothing. Thereceptacle containing the used tea bag may then be disposed of.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a receptacle100 for a sodden beverage infusion pouch 5. FIG. 1 shows a receptacle100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Here, the receptacle 100 may be beneficial for useby a user 140 to cleanly dispose of the sodden beverage infusion pouch5. As illustrated, the receptacle 100 may include a disposable sheet 110and a disposable absorbent-barrier 120.

FIG. 2 shows the receptacle 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Illustrated is the sodden beverage infusionpouch 5 in an open-position 130 in the palm of a users 140 hand. Asabove, the receptacle 100 may include a disposable sheet 110 including asubstantially flat surface 112 having a mid-section 114 and at least 3corners 116. The disposable sheet 110 may further have a pliabilityconfigured to constrict around and retain the sodden beverage infusionpouch 5 in a closed-position 330 when the sodden beverage infusion pouch5 is seated about the mid-section 114 of the flat surface 112. Thedisposable sheet 110 may be configured to fold in on its self bymanipulating the at least 3 corners 116 to meet at the mid-section 114of the disposable sheet 110 when the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5 isseated about the mid-section 114 of the flat surface 112. The disposablesheet 110 may alternatively be rolled up to retain the sodden beverageinfusion pouch 5 when the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5 is seatedabout the mid-section 114 of the flat surface 112.

The receptacle 100 may further comprise a disposable absorbent-barrier120 fixedly attached to the mid-section 114 of the disposable sheet 110,the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 having an opening 122 and an innervolume 124 configured to receive the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5,and the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 structured to absorb a liquid15 from the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5. The sodden beverageinfusion pouch 5 may be a tea bag 5. The receptacle may be structuredand configured to store and dispose of the sodden beverage infusionpouch 5, while absorbing leakage from the sodden beverage infusion pouch5.

The disposable sheet 110 may be configured to sit in the palm of thehand of the user 140 when the receptacle is in an open-position 130. Inaddition, the disposable sheet 110 may be greater in length than thedisposable absorbent-barrier 120, and the disposable absorbent-barrier120 may cover no more than 40% of the flat surface 112 of the disposablesheet 110. Further, the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 may sufficientabsorbency to prevent leakage from the sodden tea bag 5 when the soddentea bag 5 is seated within the inner volume 124 of the disposal 10absorbent-barrier. For example, the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 mayhave the ability to absorb up to 1 oz of liquid 15. In a furtherexample, the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 may absorb up to 50 timesits mass. Additionally, the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 maycomprise a superabsorbent polymer.

The disposable sheet 110 may include at least two layers and formed to athickness configured to provide durability. In addition, the disposablesheet 110 may comprise a bio-degradable material, a heat-resistantmaterial, a paper material, or a cotton material. Similarly, thedisposable absorbent-barrier 120 may comprise a heat-resistant materialand a bio-degradable material and include at least two layers. Thedisposable absorbent-barrier 120 may further have a thickness configuredto provide durability. The disposable sheet 110 may be configured to sitin the palm of the hand of a user 140 when the receptacle 100 is in anopen-position 130.

In one embodiment, the flat surface 112 of the disposable sheet 110 mayhave exactly four corners 116 and may comprise a square-shapedconfiguration or a generally rectangular-shaped configuration. Thedisposable sheet 110 may be greater in length than the disposableabsorbent-barrier 120, and the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 maycover no more than 40% of the flat surface 112 of the disposable sheet110.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 in aclosed-position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.The disposable absorbent-barrier 120 may be configured to receive thesodden beverage infusion pouch 5 of at least 3 inches in length andwidth. In a preferred embodiment, the beverage infusion pouch 5 may be atea bag. In addition, the disposable absorbent-barrier 120 may havesufficient absorbency to prevent leakage from the sodden beverageinfusion pouch 5 when the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5 is seatedatop the disposable absorbent-barrier 120. The disposableabsorbent-barrier 120 may comprise a bio-degradable material, aheat-resistant material, a paper material, or a cotton material.

In one embodiment, the disposable sheet 110 may include a substantiallyflat surface 112 having a mid-section 114 and 4 corners 116. Thedisposable sheet 110 may further have a pliability configured toconstrict around and retain the sodden tea bag when the sodden tea bagis seated about the mid-section 114 of the flat surface 112. Thereceptacle 100 may further comprise a disposable absorbent-barrier 120fixedly attached to the mid-section 114 of the disposable sheet 110, thedisposable absorbent-barrier 120 may have an opening 122 and an innervolume 124 configured to receive the sodden tea bag, and theabsorbent-barrier 120 may be structured to absorb a liquid 15 from thesodden tea bag. The receptacle 100 may be structured and configured tostore and dispose of the sodden tea bag, while absorbing leakage fromthe sodden tea bag.

The disposable sheet 110 may be configured to fold in on its self bymanipulating the 4 corners 116 to meet at the mid-section 114 of thedisposable sheet 110 when the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5 is seatedabout the mid-section 114 of the flat surface 112. The disposable sheet110 may alternatively be rolled up to retain the sodden beverageinfusion pouch 5 when the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5 is seatedabout the mid-section 114 of the flat surface 112.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle 100 of FIG. 1, showingthe receptacle 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.The receptacle 100 is illustrated in an ‘in-use’ condition demonstratingthe user 140 disposing of the receptacle 100 containing the soddenbeverage infusion pouch 5. In a preferred embodiment, the soddenbeverage infusion pouch is a tea bag 5.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 550 illustrating a method 500 for using thereceptacle 100 for the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method 500 forusing the receptacle 100 for a sodden beverage infusion pouch 5 mayinclude one or more components or features of the receptacle 100 for thesodden beverage infusion pouch 5 as described above. As illustrated, themethod 500 for using the receptacle 100 for the sodden beverage infusionpouch 5 may include the steps of: step one 501, holding the receptacle100 in the open-position 130 (the receptacle 100 including thedisposable sheet 110 and the disposable absorbent-barrier 120, thedisposable absorbent-barrier 120 fixedly attached to the mid-section 114of the disposable sheet 110); step two 502, placing the sodden beverageinfusion pouch 5 at the mid-section 114 of the disposable sheet 110 atopthe disposable absorbent-barrier 120; step three 503, folding thedisposable sheet 110 by manipulating at least 3 corners 116 of thedisposable sheet 110 to meet at the mid-section 114 of the disposablesheet 110 and retain the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5 in a closedposition 330; and step four 504, disposing of the receptacle 100containing the sodden beverage infusion pouch 5. A further optional stepmay be: step five 505, storing the receptacle 100 on a surface untilready for disposal 10 (the receptacle comprising the sodden beverageinfusion pouch 5 therein).

It should be noted that step 505 is an optional step and may not beimplemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 areillustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them fromthe other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that thesteps described in the method of use can be carried out in manydifferent orders according to user preference. The use of “step of”should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is notintended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should alsobe noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issuesas design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost,structural requirements, available materials, technological advances,etc., other methods for using the receptacle for the sodden beverageinfusion pouch (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list,elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certainmaintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A receptacle for a sodden beverageinfusion pouch, the receptacle comprising: a disposable sheet having asubstantially flat surface, the flat surface having a mid-section and atleast 3 corners, the disposable sheet having a pliability configured toconstrict around and retain the sodden beverage infusion pouch in aclosed position when the sodden beverage infusion pouch is seated aboutthe mid-section of the flat surface; and a disposable absorbent-barrierfixedly attached to the mid-section of the disposable sheet, thedisposable absorbent-barrier having an opening and an inner volumeconfigured to receive the sodden beverage infusion pouch, and theabsorbent-barrier structured to absorb a liquid from the sodden beverageinfusion pouch; and wherein the receptacle is structured and configuredto store and dispose of the sodden beverage infusion pouch, whileabsorbing leakage from the sodden beverage infusion pouch.
 2. Thereceptacle of claim 1, wherein the sodden beverage infusion pouch is atea bag.
 3. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the disposable sheetincludes at least two layers and formed to a thickness configured toprovide durability.
 4. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the disposablesheet is configured to sit in a palm of a hand of a user when thereceptacle is in an open-condition.
 5. The receptacle of claim 1,wherein the disposable sheet comprises bio-degradable material.
 6. Thereceptacle of claim 1, wherein the disposable sheet comprises aheat-resistant material.
 7. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein thedisposable comprises a paper material.
 8. The receptacle of claim 1,wherein the disposable sheet comprises a cotton material.
 9. Thereceptacle of claim 1, wherein the flat surface of the disposable sheethas exactly four corners.
 10. The receptacle of claim 9, wherein thedisposable sheet comprises a square-shaped configuration.
 11. Thereceptacle of claim 9, wherein disposable sheet comprises a generallyrectangular-shaped configuration.
 12. The receptacle of claim 1, whereinthe disposable sheet is greater in length than the disposableabsorbent-barrier, and the disposable absorbent-barriers covers no morethan 40% of the flat surface of the disposable sheet.
 13. The receptacleof claim 1, wherein the disposable absorbent-barrier is configured toreceive the sodden beverage infusion pouch of at least 3 inches inlength and width.
 14. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the disposableabsorbent-barrier has sufficient absorbency to prevent leakage from thesodden beverage infusion pouch when the sodden beverage infusion pouchis seated atop the disposal absorbent-barrier.
 15. The receptacle ofclaim 1, wherein the disposable absorbent-barrier comprises abio-degradable material.
 16. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein thedisposable absorbent-barrier comprises a heat-resistant material.
 17. Areceptacle for a sodden tea bag, the receptacle comprising: a disposablesheet having a substantially flat surface, the flat surface having amid-section and 4 corners, the disposable sheet having a pliabilityconfigured to constrict around and retain the sodden tea bag when thesodden tea bag is seated about the mid-section of the flat surface; anda disposable absorbent-barrier fixedly attached to the mid-section ofthe disposable sheet, the disposable absorbent-barrier having an openingand an inner volume configured to receive the sodden tea bag, and theabsorbent-barrier structured to absorb a liquid from the sodden tea bag;wherein the receptacle is structured and configured to store and disposeof the sodden tea bag, while absorbing leakage from the sodden tea bag;wherein the disposable sheet and the disposable absorbent-barriercomprises a heat-resistant material and a bio-degradable material andincludes at least two layers and have a thickness configured to providedurability; wherein the disposable sheet is configured to sit in a palmof a hand of a user when the receptacle is in an open-condition; whereinthe disposable sheet is greater in length than the disposableabsorbent-barrier, and the disposable absorbent-barriers covers no morethan 40% of the flat surface of the disposable sheet; and wherein thedisposable absorbent-barrier has sufficient absorbency to preventleakage from the sodden tea bag when the sodden tea bag is seated withinthe inner volume of the disposal absorbent-barrier.
 18. The receptacleof claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and wherein thereceptacle is arranged as a kit.
 19. A method of using a receptacle fora sodden beverage infusion pouch, the method comprising the steps of:holding the receptacle in an open-condition, the receptacle including adisposable sheet and a disposable absorbent-barrier, the disposableabsorbent-barrier fixedly attached to a mid-section of the disposablesheet; placing the sodden beverage infusion pouch at the mid-section ofthe disposable sheet atop the disposable absorbent-barrier; folding thedisposable sheet by manipulating at least 3 corners of the disposablesheet to meet at the mid-section of the disposable sheet and retain thesodden beverage infusion pouch in a closed position; and disposing ofthe receptacle containing the sodden beverage infusion pouch.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: storing thereceptacle on a surface until ready for disposal, the receptaclecomprising the sodden beverage infusion pouch therein.